Youth Group Retreat!

Hello Blog Readers! (Hopefully there are still some of you left!)

We really do apologize for the delay of posting...for some reason, the blog doesn't always like it when I log in, so it boots me off! (UGH!) But I think I've got it under control now, ha!

Well, I'm going to back track just a bit...last month, Ted and I went with our youth group on a retreat. It was such a blast and truly a blessing (Praise our God!) Here are some pictures from the weekend. We're not just talking a little cabin in the woods either...this place was like a resort (totally and completely our kind of "camping", ha!)

Love,
Ted and Anne :)

We once were lost...but now we're found!

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had not given up on us...we do apologize for the month long delay of blogging. We were experiencing extreme technical difficulties, but hopefully that is all behind us now, and we can move forward :) Wow, we have quite a bit of catching up to do! Stay tuned...we will have pictures and updates from the last month coming later today (probably tonight!). Please don't give up on us, Life in the Ledbetter Lane IS happening :) I will do a giant February blog before March gets here at the end of the week. Hope you all are well! Love, Ted and Anne :)

P.S. YES, IT IS STILL COLD UP HERE!!!

Does this appear dangerous to anyone else?

We have been meaning to put this on the blog for awhile...I didn't get the entire apt complex (didn't want to scare the neighbors by taking lots of pictures) but take a look at these icicles!!! The picture doesn't quite do it justice. Ted and I joke, but these things could cause some serious damage(especially to someone's head-yikes!) . We are extra careful when we walk out the front door :)

Curing the Winter Blues...

Hey Everyone! Sorry it's been awhile since we've last "blogged". All is well here in Freezing, America (I'm trying not to be terribly over dramatic, but Ted will back me on this one...it is EXTREMELY COLD here!) What is sad, is the temperatures have actually "warmed" up a bit, ha! We are loving the beautiful snow...but we are NOT loving getting out in it! ***Ok girls, this blog is especially for you. My Mom has always told me, honey, sometimes you just need a little Old Navy to brighten things up a little. Since I've already got spring/summer on the brain, I thought I'd give it a try and see if I could cure some of these "winter blues". Boy, what a cute tank top (on sale!) can do for your spirits!!! :)

P.S. I'm really okay...and promise I don't resort to retail therapy on a regular basis, ha!

American Idol/Facebook/Still FREEZING!

Oh boy, here we go again! Ted and I (and our dear friend and former roommate Roxann) got REALLY into Idol last year...I'm afraid we are hooked on it once again. Especially now that we are able to record it since we may not always be home when it's on tv. (We have no excuse but to be involved!) *on a side note, Ted and I have finally entered the world of facebook...I know, we move a little slow :) ha! Hope everyone is well! Yes, it's still freezing here in AA, I believe it was 4 when I turned on the news this morning :(

Ann Arbor = Antarctica

You guys, it is FRIGID here!!! Snow is everywhere and the temperatures are in the teens, heading towards the single digits (with a possibility of negative wind chill and it doesn't look like it's going to warm up anytime soon!) This is the part where you sigh and feel sorry for us if you do not live in Michigan, ha! :) This is a picture looking out our front door. Thank goodness for covered parking!

We're Back!!!

Happy New Year everyone! We pray this finds you well and enjoying 2009. Ted and I arrived back to a COLD, but sunny Michigan on Monday morning after a fabulous stay in our beloved OKC! The past 2 1/2 weeks have been filled with the love of family & friends and much celebration! We started off with a wedding! Grant (Ted's brother) and Lindee (our new sister-in-law!)got married (yay!!!) It was a gorgeous ceremony and we are so happy that we were able to share in their joy. Love you guys! Christmas was wonderful...we were able to see lots of immediate and extended family over the holidays (and Oklahoma came through with some gorgeous warm weather!) We also were able to catch a couple of Thunder Basketball games (thanks Uncle John!) and even witnessed a win :) Some other high lights were Sonic Cherry Limeades, going to see the Rockettes (thanks Dixie!), Ted bowled a 207, Carleton's chicken enchiladas (so yummy!), watching movies, and our new favorite thing...ROCK BAND!!! We LOVE to play Rock Band :) (Thanks Kevin, for putting us in the band!) We could not love our family and friends anymore...thanks to everyone for making this the best Christmas/New Year's yet! You are all precious to us and we look forward to seeing everyone soon. Here are some pictures of the 2008/2009 Trip to OKC, enjoy!

Flying South for the Winter...at least for part of it!

Man, I cannot believe how fast this month(really this entire year!) has flown by. Today we are leaving for OKLAHOMA CITY!!!!! Ted and I are so thankful that we are going to be "home" for the holidays and can't wait to see family and friends. Ted's brother is getting married on Friday so we will be doing wedding festivities the moment we arrive (YESSSSSS!) Last our parents reported, the weather didn't seem to be much different there than it is here in Ann Arbor (ugh!) Oh well, we can usually count on Oklahoma to give us some warmer temperatures eventually :) We love you guys and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2009! (We will resume blogging "Life in the Ledbetter Lane" in January!) Here is a photo of our finished packing job...hopefully none of these bags weigh over 50 lbs!

Weekend Summary: Sports & Culture

Greetings Y'all! :) Hope your December is going well...I still cannot believe it's almost Christmas! How fast the time is going. Ted and I are super excited that this month is here (because it means we will be going to our "Southern Home" for a couple of weeks, YAY!!) Forgive our lack of pictures, but here is a Weekend Summary from our neck of the woods.

1.) Friday: Michigan beat Michigan State in Hockey
2.) Saturday: Michigan beat Duke in Basketball (81-73) AND OU beat Missouri and won the big 12 championship (can I getta "Boomer Sooner" on that?!) I was working during the day on Saturday, but Ted said the basketball game was incredible. He even told me that Michigan had beat Duke back in I believe 1997 and it was the EXACT same score... 81-73. What are the odds??
3.) Sunday: So we had our fill of sports and decided to do something "artsy" so we went to hear the Messiah, sung by the UMS. It was fabulous!!! Hill Auditorium is breath taking and the sound was just heavenly! We've been singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" for the past 2 days :)

Let it Snow Pictures!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Well, you can definitely tell it's December here in Michigan. It has been snowing since yesterday afternoon (snowflakes ranging from pea size to what seemed like softball size!) Although, it's not the most fun to drive in, it sure is pretty to look at from inside :) Ted and I spent last night decorating our apt for Christmas. We didn't have a Christmas tree, so I went to Kohls and found a 4ft pre-lit tree that I thought would be a perfect fit for our living room. So last night Ted is helping me get it out of the box and much to our surprise (and confusion) we pulled out a BLACK Christmas tree! I didn't know they made black Christmas trees...apparently they make black, white, and hot pink in addition to traditional green. Being the "traditionalists" that we are, Ted very sweetly offered to go and exchange the black tree for a green tree. I'm having computer issues and am not able to post any pictures at the moment. Hopefully, I can figure this out so that I can show you our finished product! :)

More College Football

I'm afraid I got a little carried away with OU and forgot to mention in our last blog that the Michigan vs. Ohio State game was also on Saturday! Needless to say it didn't go as well for the Wolverines as it did for the Sooners. HOWEVER, Ted was able to go to the game in Columbus and had a marvelous time! (He even got to travel by "private jet"!) Here are some of the pictures he took from last Saturday. Okay, I think that's all the football updates for now!

Boomer Sooner!!!

WOW! What a game on Saturday night against Texas Tech. This was actually the first time I had seen an OU game on tv from start to finish this season (and oh what a thrill!) I would more or less say we dominated the Red Raiders and while I certainly hoped for the outcome that happened...I didn't necessarily think it would be such a blow out. (The very NON competitive side of me was even pulling for the Red Raiders just a tad-NOT TO WIN-but just to score a few more points). I have attached a picture of my soon to be sister-in-law Lindee and I from a couple of years ago at an OU/OSU baseball game. She too, is a Sooner (one of many reasons why I love her!) and I just want her to know that I will be wishing she were here with me to cheer on the Sooners this coming Saturday(for those who don't know...we are both married/almost married to OSU Cowboys). We don't get much support from the guys as far as OU is concerned... So we girls stick together during these bedlam battles!

California Dreamin'

I have been singing that Mamas and the Papas song "California Dreamin'" the past 2 days, wishing I were with Ted in San Diego :) He is on a business trip right now and couldn't have picked a better time to go...it is FREEZING here!!(What a surprise!) Despite the fact that they accidentally sent his luggage to Seattle instead of San Diego (oooops), he's having a great time meeting new people and also enjoying some good Mexican food (sorry Michigan...it's just not the same up north, ha!) Come home safely honey, and bring some of those warm temperatures back with you PLEASE. P.S. Ted's luggage did arrive at the hotel Tuesday night around 10:30pm so fortunately he did not have to sleep in his dress clothes.

Coldness & Sadness

Well...Saturday was the last home Michigan Football Game. You guys, it could not have been anymore cold or sad :( It rained and snowed the entire day and the only reason we have smiles on our faces is b/c we just got out of the car. I actually came back and sat in the car the 4th quarter (I know...I wimped out!) We lost to Northwestern, which allows Ted and I to be here for another Michigan Football "first" (UM has never lost 8 games in a single season until this year). Last year of course we lost to Appalachian State (the first time ever of losing to a division I-AA team). We also lost to Toledo this year which is a MAC team (I guess that's never happened either!) Despite a rough season, it is so much fun going to the games, and things will get better at the Big House! Anyways, back to coldness and sadness...that is what we felt until we got home that afternoon and changed into dry clothes :)

Fancy Friday

Friday night, Ted and I attended the Ann Arbor Business Review "Deals of the Year" Awards Banquet. This is an annual event that honors local businesses, non-profit organizations, and city projects and the work they do to help the city of Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan Stadium Project was nominated for an award and so Ted was asked to attend the event and represent the Athletic Dept (and I, being the wife, got to tag along!) It was quite Fancy-- Tuxedos and formals, cocktails and mysterious appetizers, delicious dinner & dessert, awards & speeches, and there was even an after party with a jazz band, more chocolate and a martini & cigar lounge. Here are a few pictures from our fancy evening :)

Football & First Snow of the Year!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Ted is doing very well...despite his Oklahoma State Cowboy's loss to the unconscious Texas Tech Red Raiders, he still was able to give a thumbs up at the end of the night:) (Michigan and OU won, so the day wasn't all bad!)

Well, the first snow fall of the year came today...Sunday, November 9th. Here is a picture of how I felt about it :( It's kind of hard to tell, but trust me, there was definitely white stuff falling out of the sky! Oh boy, here we go again!!!

Happy Birthday Debbie!

Today is my Mom's Birthday! She is 29+? years old :) Happy Birthday Mom, we love you and hope you enjoy your day!

Happy Halloween!!!

Last night, my sweet and thoughtful husband surprised me by bringing home 2 huge pumpkins and a pumpkin carving set! We have always talked about how much fun it would be to carve a pumpkin for Halloween (and by the time we think to do it...we already have our Christmas stuff out!) So this year, the tradition has started and Ted and I made our pumpkin carving debut (let's just say you wouldn't want either of us to be your surgeon!) Here are our finished products :) (We even baked the pumpkin seeds....yummmm!)

Weekend Update

Hello Ledbetter Blog Readers! Hope this finds you well...sorry it's been awhile since we've last posted. Here are a few pictures from this past weekend. Saturday, we went to the Michigan vs. Michigan State game. It was cold and unfortunately we lost :( BUT...the tailgate food was excellent as always (thank you Tom!) I also turned a year younger :) The big 27! Sunday was our church's annual "Trunk or Treat". We served food (hotdogs, chili, apples & caramel) and the kids get to play games, decorate pumpkins, go for a hay ride, and then at the very end of the night, all the adults open the trunks of their cars and pass out candy in the parking lot. Ted and I went as...Ted and Anne :) Although he did wear a black cape for awhile. (I was in charge of helping with the food and Ted helped with clean up and passing out candy). It was a fun weekend! P.S. I'd also just like to say that we have turned on the heat in our apt (our goal was to make it to November, oh well!) and I have officially starting wearing my winter coat!

Bonfire!

Last night, we went to the annual Mattocks Bonfire! Jim and Geri Mattocks, some dear friends from church, invite the youth group and anyone else (that would be us!) over to their house each year in October for food, games, and a devotional around a HUGE Bonfire. We were blessed to have the singing group "Autumn" from Rochester College lead our worship-wonderful singing!!! Geri made delicious chili, hotdogs, and hot chocolate which kept us plenty warm until Jim started burning things :) Here are a few pictures from the evening.

A Fall Treat!

A dear former teacher of mine emailed me this recipe and I just had to share it...Thank you Ms. Connie :)

Pumpkin Nut Crunch

1 Large can pumpkin (& ingredients listed for pie filling)
1 Duncan Hines Butter Cake Mix
1 Cup melted butter or margarine
1 Cup chopped nuts

Mix the pumpkin pie filling as directed on can. Pour into cake pan which as been sprayed with PAM cooking spray. Sprinkle cake mix (dry) over pie filling. Sprinkle pecans on top of cake mix. Evenly pour melted butter on top. Bake for 55-60 minutes at 350 degrees F. Serve warm with cool whip. Enjoy!!!! Happy Fall!

Visitors!!!

Last Thursday morning, my Mom and Dad arrived in MI! (Mom was here briefly last summer and Dad was making his first trip to Ann Arbor). We had a blast...we explored downtown AA and a good portion of campus, ate at our favorite restaurant (The Prickly Pear-Mexican food), went to a cider mill and had fresh apple cider and homemade doughnuts (yummmm), and made it to a UM football game-which was great fun, despite the loss :( Here are some pictures from their visit. Thanks Jon and Deb for everything...we are so glad you came to visit!!!